Method and mechanism for producing knitted fabric



March 24, 1936. E RI HTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNIT-TED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1932 l6 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYE March 24, 1936. RICHTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1932 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl E- EL E INVENTOR:

Emil Ijz'-h%e13 BY 9-- A TTORNEYS E. RICHTER 2,034,990 METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC March 24,. 1936.

Filed Sept. 16, 1932 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR: Emil lift/71231, B I g A TTORNEYJ March 1936. E. RICHTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1952 le'sh ets-sheet 4 F k m \u w flsg i;

- INVENTOR: Emil @Eichiez; BY 9 '1 ATTORNEYS oz =5 g March 24., RICHTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1932 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 F1 Er;5

A TTORNEYS E'. RICHTER 2,0 4,990 METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC March 24, 1936.

Filed Sept. 16, 1932 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 24, 1936.

Ei. RICHTER 230%,990 METHOD) AND MEGHANISMIHQR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC'J Filed Sept. 16, 1952 l6 sheelis she'et 7 INVEI VTER: Emil game/r ATTORNEYS March 24,' 1936. c R 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED-FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1932 '16 sheets sheet 8 f1 En. Q- f F a-ii INVENTOR: Emzl fifth/fez;

A TTORNEYS March 24, 1936. E. RICHTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1932 l6 Sheets-Sheet 9 IN V EN TOR:

ATTORNEYS March 24, 1936. g I HTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1932 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 v A TTORNEYJ March 24, 1936. E. RICHTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1952 16 Sheets-Sheet l1 Fl EriiEL ATTORNEYS I March 24, 1936. E. RICHTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 1 1952 16 Sheets-Sheet l2 FIE--51 MAMMY AM y/zw xz 'INVENTOR. Em; Zflwkfer, B Y

ATTORNEY-5i March 24, 1936.

fl E- Eui I'VVENTOR: Emil 12107172521;

ATTORNEYS March 24, 1936. E. RICHTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1952 16 Sheets-Sheet l4 7 fl I3 EQL m M w W $37 f1E- E1E LL 5 7 2 mz 6 8]} BY ATTORNEYS March 24, 1936. E. RICHTER 2,034,990

METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR FRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1932 l6 Sheets-Sheet l5 M 1 9F1Er 35 37 m 11 1| M II n WWW iilmmlml WIIIHHHIII w I 1 1 I. ll wmilmm ATTORNEYI5 March 24, 1936. E. RICHTER METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUCING KNITTED FABRIC Filed Sept. 16, 1932 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 A TTORNEYJ Patented Mar. 24, 1936 t V I I V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PRODUC- lNG KNITTED FABRIC Emil Richter, West Lawn, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 16, 1932, Serial No. 633,531

g 31 Claims. (Cl. 66-96) This invention relates to a textile knitting may invention is also dist n uis d in supp tchine and has for one ofits objects a design of g d spreading the above mentioned lifted knitting machine that is capable of knitting plain loops in suspended positions independent of the fabric, lace design fabric, non-run fabric or needles thereby enabling me to time the depositfabric having one or more barrier courses of a g of the p d 100135 119011 predetermined 1166- more effective construction than barrier courses dies. I heretofore produced. With these andother objects in view the inven- Another object of Y the invention residesin retion will be better understood from the following designing and associating component parts of a detail description taken in connection with the 1 stocking knitting machine to enable the same accompanying drawings, wherein:

to interlock various loops of the stocking in the Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine. knitting thereof to provide any number of barrier Fig. 2 is an end elevation. courses which collectively may be utilized to pro- Fig. 3 is a. cross sectional view taken along the vide barriers against runs in the stocking or line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with certain parts omitted for 1-5 to produce a lace effect or to produce a stocking the sake of clarity. 5

run proof throughout. Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

Another object of the invention resides in the Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view of parts of my provision of a simplified type of attachment that improved point mechanism. may be applied to well known constructions of Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the point 0 stocking knitting machines to enable the same mechanism. to more effectively produce spread interlocking Fig. '7 is a front elevation of a portion of the loops. lace attachment.

Another object of the invention resides in the Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of a part of the combination of mechanisms including a novel lace attachment.

type of point mechanism whereby a hosiery. knit- Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the point rod shiftting machine is capable of selectively knitting ing device. plain fabric, lace fabric or non-run fabric having Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the any predetermined number of barrier courses, li mm; of Fig, 9, each of a design to positively prevent runs from Fig. 11 is a face view of the point rod shlftin extending in either direction in the fabric. device.

Another object of the invention resides in the Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the needle camintroduction of novel devices in the construction Fig, 13 is a side elevation of the main point of a full fashion hosiery knitting machine that cam.

will enable the progressive forming of plain Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of 'courses and interlocking courses, the interlocka single barrier course as producedon my maing courses being produced by spreading and inchine.

terlocking predetermined loops with associated Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the auxiliary point loops thereby preventing unraveling in case precam,

rm d 1 1 5 break- Fig. 16 is a diagram of the path of travel of A feature of my invention resides. inthe novel a h edle,

manner of relating c'ofunctioning mechanisms Fig. 1'? is a diagramillustrating a side view of whereby the same may'operate in required time the path of travel of the point.

relations to form any number of courses of plain Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating a front view loops and any number of courses of barrier or of the path of travel of the point.

interlocking D Figs. 19 to 26 are diagrammatic sectional views Besides the above my invention is u shed illustrating the relative arrangement of the main in the use of a novel type of point mechanism point, auxiliary point and a needle in the formawhich, after the needle mechanism has formed tion of each spread loop.-

a course of regular stitches as loops, lifts prede- Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic view of the fabric I J ermin l p m the needles and spreads or illustrating the relative positions of the points reshapes the predetermined loops independent of and the needles as shown in Fig.21.

the needle mechanism of the knitting machine Fig, 28 is a diagrammatic view of the fabric thereby enabling me to control that particular illustrating the relative positions of the points course in the fabric in which the spread or.reand the needles as shown in Fig. 22. p I

shaped loops will be arranged. V Fig. '29 is a diagrammatic view of the fabric illustrating the relative positions'of the points and the needles as shown in Fig. 24.

Fig. 30 is a side elevation of a stocking illustrating two barrier courses.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a portion of the fabric illustrated by the oblong in Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a fabric showing three barrier courses.

Fig. 33 is a front elevation of a portion of a textile machine showing my semi-automatic attachment applied thereto.

Fig. 34 is an enlarged front elevational view of the right end of the semi-automatic attachment.

Fig. 35 is a cross sectional view on the line 3535 of Fig. 33.

Fig. 36 is a sectional view on the line Ski-36 of Fig. 33.

Fig. 37 is a cross sectional view on the line 3T3'3 of Fig. 34.

Fig. 38 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one of the relative positions of the points and needles.

Fig. 39 is a diagrammatic View of another relative position of the points and needles.

Fig.'40 is a diagrammatic view of a third relative position of the points and needles.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a preferred form of my machine which is constructed so as to utilize certain parts and groups of devices commonly used on a Reading type of full fashioned hosiery knitting machine. certain known parts and devices having been omitted for the sake of clearness. Therefore, my invention is illustrated basically as consisting of a frame A;

power mechanism B; pattern control mechanism C; carrier and narrowing motion mechanism D; needle mechanism E; sinker and divider mechanism F; and point mechanism G.

Referring to Figs. 30, 31 and 32, it will be noted that the fabric from which the stocking I is produced is knitted in a manner to provide plain courses 2 and interlocking or barrier courses 3, the interlocking courses in this particular showing alternating with the plain courses, but I wish it to be understood that any number of plain courses may be used between any particular number of interlocking courses and further any number of interlocking courses may be utilized throughout the stocking which requires only repeating of the machine operations hereinafter described to successfully produce any required numberv of interlocking courses. The plain courses are formed from plain loops 6, whereas each interlocking or barrier course consists of plain loops 5 alternating with spread interlocking loops 6. At this point I wish to call attention to the fact that if found desirable in practice, every loop of the interlocking course may be formed as a spread or interlocking loop, but I have found from extensive investigations that increased elasticity can be accomplished by alternating plain loops with spread loops and besides the fabric is given a more uniform appearance. In' producing the interlocking or barrier courses, I first form a course of plain loops and then selected loopsv preferably alternate loops are each spread from the wale in which they originate to an adjacent wale, the bight portion 1 of the spread loop engaging under a needle loop and over an associated sinker loop so that the bight I will be gripped between the needle wale loop and a sinker wale loop as clearly shown in Fig. 31. In the spreading of each interlocking loop, I have found it of great advantage to spread the loop independently of the needles of the knitting machine so as to accomplish a more easy spreading of the loop and the proper shaping of the same to quickly and effectively engage over the required number of needles of the knitting machine.

In Fig. 31 it will be noted that I have illustrated two interlocking or barrier courses between which is arranged a plain course whereas in Fig. 32 I have illustrated three barrier courses alternating with plain courses and I wish to be understood that this may be repeated throughout the entire area of the fabric. I also wish to call attention to the fact that the spread loops of one barrier course are arranged in alternate positions in relation to the spread loops of associated barrier courses so as to positively prevent runs from extending upwardly or downwardly of the stocking. I am aware of the fact that transferred loops have been utilized heretofore to form barrier courses but such a barrier course only prevents the passage of a "run downwardly of the stocking and will not prevent a run from passing upwardly of the stocking. -I am also aware of the fact that various designs of spread loops have been used for ornamenting a fabric and. therefore I am not attempting to claim any particular type of fabric, the present invention relating solely to a novel construction of knitting machine for economically producing a stocking having non-run properties either in a restricted area or over the entire area of the stocking.

Frame A This frame consists of front and back beams 8 and 3, front and center has it and ii and a plurality of frames 82.

Power mechanism B The power mechanism B consists of a main power shaft 93 which is adapted to be rotated by a prime mover such as an electric motor and to be shifted longitudinally by a shiftable device i i in a manner hereinafter described. This shaft i3 has mounted thereon a main point cam l5, an auxiliary point earn it, a needle cam 57, pattern cams l8 and i9 and a narrowing cam 20.

Of course, it is to be understood that there are other cams besides those set forth that are attached to the shaft 93 in the completed full fash ion machine for accomplishing all of the variations in knitting necessary on a modern type of knitting machine.

Pattern motion mechanism C The pattern motion mechanism C is practically the same type of mechanism now used on the Reading type of knitting machine with slight modifications and involves basically a lace attachment 2| and a control attachment 22, the two cofunctioning to control the action of the complete knitting machine and the latter further tachment dated February 1, 1932, published by Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pa. Included in the instrumentalities 24 of the lace attachment 2| is a lever 25 operated periodically by the pattern cam l8 on the cam shaft l3 through its engagement with a roller 26 carried by the lever 25. This lever 25 has a link connection 21 with a slidably mounted cam block 28 positioned to operate the novel point mechanism hereinafter described by the inclined cam surface 28b thereof. The instrumentalities 24 also include a lever 29 having a roller 36 arranged in shiftable rela tion with the pattern cam I9 and this lever 29 is provided with an arm 3| which is an addition to the usual lace attachment. connected to a link 32 that is operatively connected to a cam member 33 which constitutes one element of a novel type of point rod actu-' ating device 34, the other member 35 of which carries a roller 36 cofunctioning with the cam surface 28b of the cam block 23 for shifting the device 34 horizontally in two separate movements, the member 33 being capable of independent vertical movement relative to the cam member 35 in a manner hereinafter described.- Attention is called to the fact that the design of the lace attachment'is such that the operation of the knitting machine may be selectively controlled to enable the various mechanisms to knit plain fabric, lace fabric, and non-run fabric with any number of barrier courses.

Carrier and narrowing motion mechanism D This mechanism is of the usual construction consisting of a yarn carrier attachment 3?, a narrowing attachment 38 and a feed control device 39, all of which are correlated to regulate the distance of travel of the yarn carriers 49 for regulating the width of the fabric being knitted and for the periodic narrowing of the fabric by the transferring of knitted loops in a manner well known in the art. The feed control device 39 consists basically of the usual narrowing spindles 4| and 42 selectively operated by the pawl and ratchet connections 43 and 44 which are in turn manipulated by the arm 45 that is connected to a lever 46 carrying a roller 41 cooperatively associated with the narrowing cam 20 on the main shaft. As this is the usualdesign as illustrated in the Reading Catalogue referred to, further detail description will be omitted. The narrowing attachment consists of the rear narrowing shaft 48 and front narrowing shaft 49 connected together by the arms 50. Connected to the shaft 49 is a link 5| pivotally connected to a lever 52 that carries a roller 53 cofunctioning with the main point cam l5 so that the shaft 49 may be dipped towards and away from the row of needles of the knitting machine in the usual manner.

Needle mechanism E Sinker and divider mechanism F This mechanism is also of the usual type characteristic of a Reading full fashion knitting machine and consists basically of the sinkers 58.

This arm 3| is dividers 59 and actuating mechanism designated in its entirety by the numeral 60.

Point mechanism G I will now describe the most important part of my invention which may be completely manufactured and sold as a unitary article in the form of an attachment or may be incorporated in a complete knitting machine in the original construction thereof. The design of my invention is such that when arranged in conjunction with other mechanism,it produces a new combination of mechanisms for accomplishing new results but may be utilized as an attachment to an old machine for accomplishing specific results well known in the art. My improved point mechanism consists basically of a main point device 6|, an

auxiliary point device 62 and an actuating mechanism 63 therefor.

The main point device 6| consists of a main row of points 64 carried on a bar 65 that in turn is fixed to a main point shaft 66. directly sup ported by the front narrowing shaft 49 of the narrowing mechanism. The shaft 66 is capable of longitudinal movements relative to the narrowing mechanism so that the relation of the points 64 with the row of needles 54 may be changed for a purpose hereinafter described.

The auxiliary point device 62 is in the form of an auxiliary row of points. 6! carried by a bar 66.

This bar 68 is supported by brackets 69 that in turn are fixed to an auxiliary point shaft l6. This point shaft 10 is capable of longitudinal siding movements and rotatable movements by being loosely mounted in brackets ii that are action of the shaft 40 I provide a coil spring 86 utilizing its resiliency to normally force the points 61 towards the points 64. The shaft 66 carries a cam element 8| positioned to have a cam connection with a lug 82 fixed to the shaft 1|] so that when lug 82 moves into a siding cam action with element 8| the points 67 will be moved away from points 64 for accomplishment of objectives hereinafter set forth. A coil spring 83 is provided for each shaft and this coil spring has one end fixed to a projection 84 on the narrowing frame and its other end connected to one arm 85 of a centrally pivoted lever 86, the other arm 81 of which engages a collar 88 on its associated point shaft to constantly urge the shaft to the left. In other words, the lever 66 acts in opposition to the action of the cam block 28. The left end portions of both shafts or point rods 66 and 16 are provided with followers 89 that have a sliding contact with the cam device 34. Due to the fact that shafts 66 and 10 must be periodically moved as a unit and periodically moved independent of each other, the cam device 34 is constructed of the two members 33 and 35 hereinbefore set forth. The member 35 has a plain vertical surface 96 whereas member 33 which is slidably mounted on member 35 is provided with a cam or wedge surface 9| with the result that when the member 35 is moved horizontally by the cam block 28 both shafts 66 and 19 will be shifted longitudinally as a unit,

but upon member 33 being slid vertically independently of member 35 into an active position.

Referring to Figs. 19 to 26, I have illustrated a single needle 92 of the row of needles, 8. single main point 93 of the row of points and a single auxiliary point 94 of the row of auxiliary points.

In Fig; 19 the points are about to start their downward travel whereas in Fig. 20 the point 93 has engaged the beard of the needle and the point 96 is moving into proper relation with the point 83.

In Fig. 21 the point 93 has engaged the last loop 95 of the fabric 96, the needle 92 continuing its downward movement so -as to free itself of the loop 95 which is to be spread.

In Fig. 22 the needle 92 has passed downwardly below the knock over bits :37, the fabric 96 being retained upon the bits 9? with the loop 35 in engagement with the points 93. In this particular position it will be noted that the point 3 5 has moved into fiat engagement with the point 93 and within the groove 98 of point 93.

In Fig. 23 the point es is moved slightly away from the point 93 so as to clear its groove and in Fig. 24 the point 93 has been shifted laterally relative to the point 35, the sinkers being retracted in this particular view to prevent inter ference between the point and the sinkers and dividers in the lateral shifting of the point.

In Fig. 25 the points have been lowered to engage with the required needles in the rising thereof to place the loop 95 that has now been spread by the separated points in position to engage around two needles in the raising of the row of needles. In Fig. 26 the points have been raised to their uppermost position and the needle 92 is now in position to receive a new thread for the forming of a new row of loops.

' In Fig. 27 I have illustrated a horizontal sectional view of point 93 in its engagement with the needle 92.

In Fig. 28 I have illustrated a sectional view through the two points in their cooperative arrangement as shown in Fig. 22.

In Fig. 29 I have shown the points shifted relative to each other for the spreading of the loops, the position of the points corresponding to Fig. 24.

In Figs. 12, 13 and 15 I have designated by the numerals 19b to 26b, the various cam portions of the cams that are utilized to produce the relative position of the points and needles as shown in Figs. 19 to 26 inclusive.

In Figs. 16, 1'7 and 18, I have designated by the numerals l9b to 26b the various positions of the needles and points corresponding to the positions illustrated in Figs. 19 to 26 inclusive.

In the complete cycle of operation of the knitting machine, the power shaft I3 is set into operation for the usual actuation of the needle mechanism for producing any required number of plain courses and at a predetermined point in the formation of the fabric the loops for an interlocking or barrier course are formed by the action of the pattern motion mechanism. When this has been accomplished, the point mechanism in conjunction with the narrowing mechanism dips towards the row of needles with the result that the companion sets of points engaged with predetermined selective loops on predetermined needles to remove the same completely and bodily from the needles. These predetermined selective loops as individually removed from their selective needles engage around the companion points 93 and 94 with the result that when the companion points are shifted laterally relative to each other such as by shifting the points 93 while holding the points 94 stationary, the selective loops will each be spread and while in this spread condition the points are then brought into operative relation with a pair of needles with the result that the spread loop is passed over a pair of companion needles. I wish to call attention to the fact that the spreading of the loops takes place independently of the movement of the needles, that is to say, each loop is removed bodily from its creating needles and then spread independently by the action of the companion points thereby relieving the needles of any strains or distortion effects and enabling the spreading of the loop in a more practical and efiective manner.

In the accomplishment of the dipping of the points and their relative displacement, the pattern mechanism through its various instrumentalities functions to time the vertical movement of the cam block 28 for shifting shafts 66 and 76 as a unit for placing the points in the proper alignment with predetermined needles in predetermined wales. After this has been accomplished the narrowing mechanism is set into operation through cam it for dipping the narrowing mechanism and with it the point mechanism. The points will then engage predetermined loops and in the downward movement of the needles remove such loops from their needles. After this has been accomplished, cam member 33 is slid relative to member 35 so as to bring the cam surface SI of member 33 into proper engagement with the follower of shaft 66 for shifting shaft 66 longitudinally independently of shaft Hi. This action causes the shifting of points 93 relative to points 3 3 for spreading the loops.

Upon the upward movement of the needles, these spread loops are transferred to the needles by the action of the narrowing mechanism. As a final step in the cycle of operation, the cam block 28 is moved an increased elevation by the point motion mechanism for giving a second shifting motion to the pair of shafts 66 and It! as a unit for placing the points into relation with a different group of needles corresponding to another In the swinging movement of points 61 towards points 66 by the crank arm 1.3 and the manipulating parts therefor, the lug 82 will eventually engage the cam element 8| so as to accomplish a slight lateral displacement of the points 64 and 67 as clearly shown in Fig. 24 to allow an independent lateral shifting of the point ti l (93 in Fig. 24) in the spreading of the loop. Due to the formation of the groove in points 64 and the contour of the points 51, I accomplish a centering action between the points 64 and .61 to assure their proper alignment and. the proper positioning within predetermined selective loops that are to be spread. In the shifting of the shaft l3 by In other words, 

